Easy 4 Step Crock-Pot Yogurt

4 Recipes and 10 Healthy Freezer Meals for the Crockpot

So I recently decided to help my mom put together some freezer meals for my brother and I decided I would share them on the blog because it was a very successful endeavor!

Belated Christmas Post: White Chocolate Crispy Candy

Homemade Pork Rub

Since I have had a LOT more time on my hands lately, not to mention a great kitchen, I have actually been cooking and actually liking it a little more!  I thought I better take some pictures along the way so I can share some of my favorite recipes with you.

I am a big fan of pork roast and I had never done a pork rub when cooking it before because it was just another spice to buy- then I realized I could make my own!

Here is the recipe I adjusted to the spices I actually had:

Pork Rub
3 tsp. Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes (I used 1 tsp- we like spicy)
1 tsp. Black Pepper
2 tsp. Salt

What's Cooking?

So, my new year's resolution this year was to "lighten up" my life.  This includes my cooking.  I have been making lots of stir-fry,chicken, and fish dishes with brown rice and sandwiches.  I need some more variety though!  Anyone have any good healthy meals they make often?

Here is one of my newest faves:

Curry Salmon with Broccoli

• 1 1/2 cups uncooked long grain white rice (substitute brown rice)
• 3 cups water
• 2 pounds broccoli, chopped
• 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of celery soup (fat free)
• 1 cup mayonnaise (fat free)
• 1 cup apple juice (you can also use white wine)
• 2 teaspoons curry paste (or curry powder)
• 2 pounds salmon fillets, bones and skin removed (mine was already cooked-leftovers)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Bring the rice and water to boil in a pot. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 25 minutes.
3. Arrange broccoli in the bottom of the baking dish. Mix the cream of celery soup, mayonnaise, wine, and curry in a bowl, and pour 1/2 evenly over the broccoli. Cut salmon into chunks and place in baking dish. Top with remaining soup mixture.
4. Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until broccoli is tender and fish flakes easily with a fork. Serve over cooked rice.

This sounds weird, but believe me- it is delicious!  

I made a full 9x13 pan of it on Sunday and had my brothers up for dinner and we finished it all!

Craving

I am dying to make these cookies right now.  Mmmmm.

Fall Recipe

This dish looks delicious to me right now.  I think I am going to have to try it.  Fall food is my favorite :)

Chicken Vegetable Marinara

What You Need

2 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, chopped

1 lb.  Boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks

2 tsp. Dried oregano leaves

3 large  Carrots (1/2 lb.), diagonally sliced

3 cups Fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 jar  (14 oz.) marinara sauce

2 cups multi-grain rotini pasta, uncooked

2   Zucchini, quartered lengthwise, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices

1/2 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Italian* Three Cheese Blend

Make It

COOK and stir bacon in large saucepan on medium heat 4 min. or until crisp. Use slotted spoon to transfer bacon to medium bowl, reserving 2 tsp. drippings in pan. Add chicken and seasoning to drippings; cook and stir 4 min. or until chicken is no longer pink. Add to bacon; set aside.
ADD carrots to saucepan; cook and stir 2 min. Add broth, marinara sauce and pasta; stir. Bring to boil on high heat; simmer on medium-low heat 12 min. Stir in zucchini and chicken mixture; simmer 8 to 10 min. or until pasta and vegetables are tender and chicken is done.
TOP with cheese.

link

Orange Rolls for Easter and Every Time of Year

Growing up, my mom used to make these orange rolls every Easter.  I decided this year that I would make this a tradition in my family.  I know this post is a little late, but I really think these rolls are perfect for every time of year.

For those of you who know me, you know how bad I am at cooking and how much I hate it.  These were really fun to do though!  And, if I can do them so can anyone. 

A helper is not required but definitely suggested :)

Mix together:

2 Cups Warm water

2 Tbs. Yeast

1/3 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Oil
1 1/2 tsp. Salt
1 Egg

3 Cups Flour

Gradually Add 3 more cups of flour

Knead the dough on flour-dusted counter until it looks like this:

Place the dough in a bowl greased with Pam and then spray the top of the dough with Pam.

If you are making the dough the night before put cellophane over it and put it in the fridge.  If you are going to finish them that same day put a towel over the top and place the bowl somewhere warm or just room temperature to let the dough rise.  Let it rise about 2 hours or so.

Once it has risen (whether in the fridge or on the counter) separate it into 3 sections to roll out like this:

Make the inside by combining:

3 Tbs. orange zest (it uses about 1 medium orange)

1/2 Cup Sugar

1 cube softened butter (recipe calls for 1/2 cube but I wanted them to be more "desserty")

Spread on the rolled out dough:

Roll up the dough "hot dog style" so it is long and skinny.

Use dental floss to cut into rolls.  About 1 1/2 inches thick.  Do the same with the other 2 sections of the dough.

Place in greased pan and let rise another couple hours before cooking at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes (keep your eye on them)  I like them a little doughy, so I would take them out a little early.

To make the glaze for the top:

Use the juice of the orange you used along with powdered sugar until desired consistency.

I made a little extra glaze with just powd. sugar and milk to make them even healthier. :)

I added the glaze a little before and after I cooked them.  I didn't take a pic, but they look like this when done:

I linked this post HERE.

Easiest, Tastiest Peach Cobbler Ever...Did I Mention How Easy It Is?

One of my many weaknesses is my lack of cooking skills. Not only do I suck at it, but I really hate cooking. I don't know why I hate cooking so much, especially since I love pretty much every other homemaking activity. I just really hate cooking and I'm not good at it.

So, you have my word when I say this is the easiest peach cobbler ever. This is what you do:

Put desired amount of canned peaches in pan. I use 3 cans.

Sprinkle an entire yellow or white cake mix on the top.

Pour a cube of melted butter over it and cook in the oven at 350 degrees for around 30 minutes.

That's it! The only thing you could really do to mess this up is burn it...and even I didn't do that! Of course, I wouldn't sit down for 20 minutes and kept checking on it every 5 seconds...

But, seriously, it is the BEST. I could eat the whole thing by myself in a day. Make sure you have vanilla ice cream to go with it!

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